Drinking fountain



INVENTOR, /V/Z/h/I'Z. @rame/1 ATTORNEYS.

A L GRUVER .DRINKING FOUNTAIN Flled July 5 1955 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRINKING FOUNTAIN Arthur L. Gruver, St. Joseph, Mo.

Application July 3, 1935, Serial No. 29,664

10 Claims. (Cl. 62-154) This invention relates to drinking fountain of the character wherein novel cooling means for the water is provided so that the water is lowered in temperature through the action of absorbing moisture from an absorbent material which surrounds the pipe carrying the `dripping Water to the delivery nozzle.

The primary object of this invention is to provide novel, unique and simple' structure for cooling drinking water which structure is unusually effective in its action because of the efficiency with which. the coolingspray water is directed over an absorbent material wrapped about a coil of pipe through which the drinking water passes.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a drinking fountain wherein a coil of pipe is employed to carry the water from a source of supply to a nozzle and which is covered with a layer or fabric or absorbent material which receives water from sprays directed toward the coil of pipe and through a foraminous cage which is in contact with said coil and which serves to direct water from one of the individual coils of the pipe coil to the others.

A yet further aim of this invention is to provide a drinking fountain of the aforementioned character wherein the cooling coils thereof are acted upon by noveily constructed spray means and which .are disposed so that free circulation of air both transversely and longitudinally of the pipe coil is permitted, all to the end that absorption of the water from the material covering the pipes is facilitated and thereby cools the water within the coils in a more rapid and positive way.

Other objects of this invention will appear during the course of the specification which relates to the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodirnent of the invention, wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drinking fountain embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section through the drinking fountain assembly taken on line III-III of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional View through the fitting which is provided to afford connection between .a water supply pipe and the other parts of the cooler receiving water therefrom, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, central section through the filter portion of the supply pipe of the filter.

This drinking fountain is particularly adapted for use out of doors and the passage of air currents across the coil of pipe which is combined with the other parts of the fountain in a particular manner, is instrumental in thoroughly and effectively cooling the water which is supplied to the drinking fountain nozzle.

The fountain itself comprises a coil of pipe 6, which may be constructed of copper or aluminum so that rapid heat exchange might take place and which is covered by a fabric or other suitable absorbent material which is wound around the individual coils of pipe 6 from va point beginning at its connection with the supply pipe l0 to the 5v other end of the main coil where the said pipe 6 connects with pipe i2 which leads directly to the nozzle I4 of the fountain. A valve it interposed in pipe i2 directly below nozzle I4, permits the user of the fountain tovary the flow of water 10 from the nozzle and a similar valve i8 is provided with supply pipe I0 for the purpose of shutting off entirely all of the water which is supplied to the drinking fountain structure, This valve is particularly necessary because of the herein- 15 after described spray pipes which receives a supply of water from pipe Iii. Nozzle M has a small frusto-conical shield 20 directly below the outlet end thereof which causes the over-flow water from nozzle lli to drop down upon deflector 22 20 which is formed in a particular fashion as shown in Figs. l and 2. This deilector 22 is provided with a series of radially extending grooves 24 that serve to evenly distribute the Water as it flows by gravity down over the upper face of deiiector 22 25 and thence down against the coiled pipe 9 and the foraminous cage Z which extends longitudinally of the coil proper and which is in direct Contact with the fabric absorbent material vcovering the individual coils of the main pipe coil. 30 This foraminous material may be the ordinary heavy screen which is found on the market and may be placed either so that it circumscribes the main coil as shown in the drawing, or so that it is circumscribed by the individual coils. 35 The function of this cage 26 contributes to the efficiency of the drinking fountain because as the spray water and over-flow water is directed toward coiled pipe 6, the said water is caused to move in a path of travel from one individual coil 40 to another. Spray pipes 28 connected` to supply pipe I 0 by a suitable fitting Bil, extend first radially outwardly from pipe I0 and thence upwardly along the length of coiled pipe Ei in spaced relation thereto. These spray pipes 28 have small 45 spray openings 32 formed therein along the sides directed toward pipe 6 and when water is forced through spray pipes 28, escapes therefrom through these openings 32 and passes through cage 26 toward covered pipe Ei. These individual 50 sprays are broken up by the fcrannnous material forming cage 26 and thereby evenly distributed along the coiled pipe IE. The upper ends of these spray pipes 28 are enclosed and supported in positionY by a spider 34 which underlies deflector 55.

22. Openings 32 are so small that it becomes necessary to first lter the supply of water thereto and accordingly this invention contenfiplatesV the use of a filter 36 such as detailed in Fig. 5.

This filter is merely a housing having a par- 60 tition 38 therein through which the water is forced before it enters tting 38 and spray pipes 28 and pipe 6. Partition 38.may be of any suitable material and transverse screens may be employed in holding a conventional type of ltering medium in place.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the Water which is employed to drench the absorbent material 8 which overlies coiled pipe 6 is not localized but is evenly distributed throughout the entire length of the main pipe coil so that a considerable amount of water within pipe iik is maintained cool for drinking purposes. As a mat ter of fact, a drinking fountain constructed as set down above, will provide cooled water at the nozzle if the water supply is allowed to run slowly through'coiled` pipe Si at a constant rate of speed. It is to be observed that there are no solid housings encasing the pipe coil and that the currents of air are permitted to pass freely over the pipe 6 from any and all directions.

The cage 26 serves not only to direct the Ywater as hereinabove set down but to render more rigid the individual coils of pipe 6 and to protect the same against injury.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is:

from the nozzle toward the said brous covering.V

2, A drinking fountain comprising a pipe coil having one end in connection with a water supply Y pipe; a nozzle in connection with the coil at the other end thereof; a brous covering for the pipe coil; a deiiector between the nozzle and said coil formed to direct water from the nozzle toward the said fibrous covering; and a plurality of spray pipes having openings formed therein to direct a spray of water toward said fibrous covering of the coil, said spray pipes being connected to the water supply pipe. 1

3. A drinking fountain comprising a pipe coil having one end in connection with a water supply pipe; a nozzle in connection with the coil at the other end thereof; a brous covering for the pipe coil; a deiiector between the nozzle and said coil formed to direct water from the nozzle toward the said fibrous covering; Vand a plurality of spray pipes having openings formed therein to direct a spray of Water toward said fibrous covering of the coil, said spray pipes being connected to the water supply pipe, the individual coils of said pipe coil Y the said fibrous covering; and a plurality of spray pipes having openings formed therein `to direct a spray of water toward said brous covering of the coil, said spray pipes being connected to the water supply pipe; the said spray pipes being arranged to direct the sprays of water therefrom radially inwardly toward each other and toward the said pipe coil. Y

5. A drinking fountain comprising a pipe coil having one end in connection with a Water supply pipe; a nozzle in connection with the coil at the `other end thereof; a fibrous covering for the pipe coil; a deiector between the nozzle and said coil formed to direct water from the nozzle toward the said brous covering; and a plurality of spray pipes having openings formed therein to direct a spray of water toward said fibrous covering of the coil, said spray pipes being connected to the water supply pipe; said pipe coil being provided with a supporting cage of foraininous material whereby to allow free passage of air around the said coils for purpose of evapo-V rating the water from said'brous covering and thereby to cool the water within the coils vprior to its passage through said nozzle.

G. A drinking fountain of the character described comprising a pipe coil having connection at one end with a source of water supply; a valve controlled nozzle at the other end thereof; a covering of absorbent material on the pipe coil; means for drenching said material; and a supporting cage of foraminous material for the said coil.

7. A drinking fountain of the character described, comprising a pipe coil having a vertical axis and individual coils of substantially like diameters; a covering of water absorbentl mate- Vria-l on said pipe coil; an open end cagev circumscribing the said coil and formed of foraminous material whereby to allow-free passage of air both longitudinallyV and transversely across said coil to evaporate water from the said pipe covering; and means for maintaining the said water absorbing material drenched `with water.

8. A drinking fountain of the character described, comprising a pipe coil having a vertical said coil to evaporate water from the said pipe' covering; and means for maintaining the said Ywater absorbing material drenched with water,

comprising spray pipes having openings disposed to direct a spray of water against the pipe coil.

9. A drinking fountain of the character Adescribed, comprising a pipe coil disposed on a vertical axisand having individual coils oi' substantially like diameters; a covering of absorbentV material on the pipe coil; a cage of foraminous material extending longitudinally along the pipe coil in contact with theV individual coils of the pipe coil; and means for directingA sprays of Water against said pipe coil and cage, the latter serving to direct the said water along a path of travel contacting the said covering of absorbent material.

lo. In a drinking fountain a pipe coil; a covering of absorbent material on the pipe of said coil; means for directing sprays of water toward said pipe coil; and a cage of foraminous material in contact with the absorbent material on the-pipe coil and intersecting the path of travel of the sprays of Water.

ARTHUR L. GRUVER. 

